not to say
idiom
—used to introduce a more forceful or critical way of describing someone or something
He was impolite, not to say downright rude!
Examples of not to say in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s not to say tariffs aren’t pressuring some businesses to increase their investments in the U.S.
—
Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 30 June 2025
That’s not to say McDavid couldn’t give the Lightning a better shot at the Cup.
—Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
That’s not to say the designer, who often prefers to describe himself as a tailor and dressmaker, has eschewed references in his collection to Madeleine Vionnet, Dior, Gabrielle Chanel and Azzedine Alaïa shortly after the designer’s passing.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Advertisement Even still, that’s not to say that climate work in the U.S. is dead.
—Justin Worland, Time, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for not to say
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Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 30 June 2025
That’s not to say McDavid couldn’t give the Lightning a better shot at the Cup.
—Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
That’s not to say the designer, who often prefers to describe himself as a tailor and dressmaker, has eschewed references in his collection to Madeleine Vionnet, Dior, Gabrielle Chanel and Azzedine Alaïa shortly after the designer’s passing.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Advertisement Even still, that’s not to say that climate work in the U.S. is dead.
—Justin Worland, Time, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for not to say
Cite this Entry
“Not to say.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20to%20say. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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